Electric conduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

This electric conduction apparatus is an electric conduction apparatus that supports an electronic device having a predetermined surface provided with a connector insertion port and is capable of being electrically connected to the electronic device, the electric conduction apparatus including a housing having a front side and a rear side, a connector that protrudes from the housing and can be inserted into the connector insertion port, and a pivoting mechanism configured to pivot the connector about a first axis line located on the rear side relative to the connector.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/201,091filed Nov. 27, 2018, which claims priority to JP Patent Application No.2018-037582 filed Mar. 2, 2018, the entire contents of each of which arehereby incorporated by reference in this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an electric conduction apparatus thatsupports an electronic device having a predetermined surface providedwith a connector insertion port and is capable of being electricallyconnected to this electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

A portable game system is configured to be supported by an electricconduction apparatus called a cradle such as that disclosed in JP2017-85743A, for example. This cradle has a connector protruding upward,and power is supplied by inserting this connector into a connectorinsertion portion formed in a lower surface of the game system.

JP 2017-85743A is an example of related art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Incidentally, in order to detach the game system from the electricconduction apparatus in a state where the connector is inserted into theconnector insertion port, the game apparatus may be pulled up inparallel to the direction in which the connector is inserted. However,if the game system can be detached from the electric conductionapparatus by being tilted forward, for example, there is also apossibility that an unnecessary load will be applied to the connector.It should be noted that such a problem is not limited to the gamesystem, but also arises in various electronic devices configured to beelectrically connected via the electric conduction apparatus and theconnector.

The present disclosure was made in order to solve this problem, and anobject of the present disclosure is to provide an electric conductionapparatus capable of reducing the possibility that an unnecessary loadwill be applied to a connector.

This electric conduction apparatus is an electric conduction apparatusthat supports an electronic device having a predetermined surfaceprovided with a connector insertion port and is capable of beingelectrically connected to the electronic device, the electric conductionapparatus including a housing having a front side and a rear side, aconnector that protrudes from the housing and is configured to beinserted into the connector insertion port, and a pivoting mechanismconfigured to pivot the connector about a first axis line located on therear side relative to the connector.

It should be noted that the front side and the rear side are set basedon the housing, and even if the housing is disposed tilted, theirpositional relationship will not change.

With this configuration, the connector is supported to be pivotableabout the first axis line located on the rear side relative to theconnector. Thus, for example, if a user attempts to detach theelectronic device from the electric conduction apparatus while tiltingthe electronic device forward in a state where the connector is insertedinto the connector insertion port, the connector pivots when theelectronic device is tilted. Then, the connector moves downward (thatis, the direction opposite to the direction in which the connector isinserted) while being tilted forward together with the electronic devicein a process in which the connector pivots, and thus the connectorseparates from the connector insertion port. Thus, even in the casewhere the electronic device is detached by tilting the electronic deviceforward, it is possible to reduce the possibility that an unnecessaryload will be applied to the connector.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the pivoting mechanism may furtherinclude a facing surface that faces a back surface of the electronicdevice that extends from a rear end of the predetermined surface whenthe connector is inserted into the connection insertion port of theelectronic device, and the facing surface may be disposed on the rearside relative to the connector, and extend substantially parallel to adirection in which the connector protrudes.

Because this configuration makes it possible to bring the facing surfaceinto contact with the electronic device when the connector is insertedinto the connector insertion port, this makes it possible to restrictthe pivoting of the connector. Thus, the connector can be smoothlyinserted into the connector insertion port.

Also, in the electric conduction apparatus, the facing surface may beconfigured to be pivotable together with the connector by the pivotingmechanism.

According to this configuration, even if the connector pivots, forexample, the facing surface pivots together with the connector, and thusthe positional relationship between the connector and the facing surfacedoes not change. Thus, if the electronic device is moved using thefacing surface as a reference, the connector can be easily inserted intothe connector insertion port.

It should be noted that “substantially parallel” may not be “completelyparallel”, and need only be “parallel to an extent that the connectorcan be smoothly inserted into the connector insertion port”.

If the electronic device includes a recessed portion that extends upwardfrom a portion at which the predetermined surface and the back surfaceintersect with each other, the pivoting mechanism may have variousconfigurations. For example, the pivoting mechanism may be configured toinclude a guide portion at least a portion of which can be inserted intothe recessed portion, the guide portion having the facing surface.

By bringing a pair of predetermined surfaces of the guide portion intocontact with two side surfaces of the recessed portion of the electronicdevice, the position of the electronic device in a direction along thefirst axis line can be easily determined when the connector is inserted.

Alternatively, the pivoting mechanism may have a guide portion at leasta portion of which can be inserted into the recessed portion, the guideportion protruding from the facing surface to the front side.

With this configuration, by bringing a pair of predetermined surfaces ofthe guide portion into contact with two side surfaces of the recessedportion of the electronic device, the position of the electronic devicein a direction along the first axis line can be also easily determinedwhen the connector is inserted.

The electric conduction apparatus may further include a substrateconfigured to supply power to the connector and a cable extending from arear end portion of the substrate on the rear side, in which thesubstrate may be configured to be supported to be pivotable togetherwith the connector by the pivoting mechanism, and the first axis linemay be located in a vicinity of the rear end portion of the substrate.

According to this configuration, the cable extends from the rear endportion of the substrate that supplies power to the connector, and thefirst axis line is located in the vicinity of the rear end portion ofthe substrate. That is, because the first axis line is located near theportion at which the connector and the cable are connected to eachother, even if the substrate pivots together with the connector, theportion at which the substrate and the cable are connected to each otheris unlikely to move. Thus, it is possible to reduce the possibility thatan unnecessary load will be applied due to excessive movement of thecable.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the pivoting mechanism may includean elastic member configured to bias the connector in a direction inwhich the connector is inserted into the connector insertion port.

Accordingly, the connector is always pressed in the direction in whichthe connector is inserted, and thus the connector can be biased to theposition at which the connector can be easily inserted into theconnector insertion port.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the electronic device may have afront surface extending from a front end of the predetermined surface,the housing may have a support surface that faces the predeterminedsurface of the electronic device, the support surface may be configuredsuch that a portion at which the predetermined surface and the frontsurface of the electronic device intersect with each other can come intocontact with the support surface when the connector inserted into theconnector insertion port is detached from the connector insertion port.

According to this configuration, when the electronic device is detachedby being tilted forward, the intersecting portion of the electronicdevice comes into contact with the support surface of the housing, andthus this contact portion serves as the fulcrum and the electronicdevice can be stably pivoted forward. Thus, the connector also smoothlypivots along with this stable pivoting, and thus it is possible toeasily separate the connector from the connector insertion port.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the housing may have a baseportion having a surface that faces the predetermined surface of theelectronic device and an extension portion having a front surface thatextends from the surface of the base portion, the base portion and theextension portion may be configured to intersect with each other in aside view, and the connector may be disposed on the housing siderelative to a virtual plane that connects a front end of the surface ofthe base portion and an upper end of the front surface.

According to this configuration, if the electric conduction apparatus isdisposed such that the front end of the surface of the base portion andthe upper end of the front surface are in contact with the installationsurface, the connector is not in contact with the installation surface.Thus, even if the electric conduction apparatus is disposed in such amanner, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the connector willcome into contact with the installation surface and be damaged. Itshould be noted that the base portion and the extension portion may beconfigured to have an L-shape in a side view, for example.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the housing may have a baseportion having a surface that faces the predetermined surface of theelectronic device and an extension portion that has a front surfaceextending from the surface of the base portion and a back surface thatis opposite to the front surface, and the electric conduction apparatusmay further include a stand member that is attached to a back surface ofthe extension portion, and a linking mechanism configured to link thestand member to the housing so as to be capable of pivoting about asecond axis line, the linking mechanism being capable of adjusting anangle between the stand member and the housing.

Accordingly, it is possible to adjust the angle of the stand member withrespect to the housing and to install the housing at an angle desired bya user.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the linking mechanism may beconfigured to detachably link the stand member and the housing together,and separate the stand member from the housing when the angle betweenthe stand member and the housing is a predetermined angle or more.

According to this configuration, when the angle of the stand member withrespect to the housing is forcibly increased, for example, if the angleis the predetermined angle or more, the stand member separates from thehousing, and thus it is possible to reduce the possibility that thestand member and the housing will be damaged.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the stand member may be configuredsuch that a site of the housing that is located above the second axisline comes into contact with the housing when the angle between thestand member and the housing is the predetermined angle.

With this configuration, if the angle of the stand member with respectto the housing is increased to a predetermined angle or more, the siteof the stand member comes into contact with the housing, this contactpoint serves as the fulcrum, and the stand member can be easilyseparated from the housing.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the linking mechanism may includea linking portion provided in the housing and a pair of fixing portionsthat are provided in the stand member and detachably fixed to thelinking portion so as to sandwich two ends of the linking portion in adirection along the second axis line.

According to this configuration, it is possible to smoothly separate thestand member from the housing and to reduce the possibility that thelinking mechanism such as the fixing portions will be damaged at thetime of separation.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the linking mechanism may furtherinclude an engagement portion that is provided between the pair offixing portions of the stand member and can engage with the linkingportion.

If such an engagement portion is provided in addition to the fixingportions being fixed to the linking portion, the stand member and thehousing can be more tightly linked together.

In the electric conduction apparatus, an inclined portion may be formedin at least one of portions at which the fixing portions and the linkingportion are in contact with each other in a state where the fixingportions and the linking portion are fixed to each other, and the fixingportions and the linking portion may be configured to be fixed aftersliding over the inclined surface.

According to this configuration, the fixing portions can be fixed bysliding over the inclined portion of the linking portion, and thus thefixing portions can be easily attached to the linking portion.

In the electric conduction apparatus, the linking mechanism may includea first site that is provided in the extension portion, a second sitethat has the linking portion, and a hinge portion that links the firstsite and the second site and enables the first site and the second siteto pivot relative to each other about the second axis line.

Although this configuration is one example of the linking mechanism, byusing, as a hinge portion, a member that requires torque for pivoting ofa torque hinge or the like, the force required for pivoting can beincreased by the torque portion when the stand member is pivoted, forexample. As a result, the angle of the stand member with respect to thehousing can be adjusted steplessly, and the angle at which the housingis installed can be finely adjusted.

In the electric conduction apparatus, a material for forming the firstsite and the second site may have a rigidity that is higher than that ofa material for forming the housing.

According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the rigidityof the first and second sites that are linked by the hinge portion, andto reduce the possibility that the first and second sites will bedamaged even if force is repeatedly applied due to the stand memberpivoting.

Although there is no particular limitation on the material forconstituting the first and second sites, the first and second sites maybe made of a resin material containing glass fibers, and in this case,at least a portion of the first and second sites may be accommodated inthe housing.

The resin material including glass fibers has high strength, but it isdifficult to color the resin material to a desired color in some cases.Thus, there is a possibility that the aesthetic appearance of the firstand second sites cannot be increased, and thus by housing at leastportions of these sites in the housing, it will be difficult to seethese sites from the outside.

The electric conduction apparatus may be configured such that theelectronic device can be charged when the connector is inserted into theconnector insertion port of the electronic device.

According to the electric conduction apparatus, it is possible to reducethe possibility that an unnecessary load will be applied to theconnector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a game system in which a leftcontroller and a right controller are attached to a main body apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the game system in which theleft controller and the right controller are detached from the main bodyapparatus.

FIG. 3 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the main bodyapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the left controllershown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the rightcontroller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the internalconfiguration of the main body apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the internalconfiguration of the main body apparatus, the left controller, and theright controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a charging device according to anexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the charging device shown in FIG. 8viewed from the back surface side.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where a stand member ispivoted in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a housing.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the charging device installed on aninstallation surface in a tilted state.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the housing, a linkingmechanism, and a stand member.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 8.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a pivoting member.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the stand member.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a first fixingtool and a second fixing tool are fixed.

FIG. 18 is a side view showing a state where the stand member is pivotedupward.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a connector support member.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the connector support member.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing pivoting of the connectorsupport member.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing an electrical structure inside thehousing together with the connector support member.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for attaching thegame system to the charging device.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for attaching thegame system to the charging device.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for attaching thegame system to the charging device.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for adjusting theangle of the stand member.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for adjusting theangle of the stand member.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for detaching thegame system from the charging device.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing a method for detaching thegame system from the charging device.

FIG. 30 is a side view showing an effect of a positional relationshipbetween the housing and the connector.

FIG. 31 is a side view illustrating separation of the stand member fromthe housing.

FIG. 32 is a side view of the charging device illustrating anotherexample of a guide member.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following describes an exemplary embodiment in a case where anelectric conduction apparatus according to the present disclosure isapplied to a charging device of a game system. Hereinafter, first, thegame system that is to be charged will be described, and then, theelectric conduction apparatus will be described.

1. Summary of Game System

A game system according to an example of an exemplary embodiment isdescribed below. An example of a game system 1 according to theexemplary embodiment includes a main body apparatus (an informationprocessing apparatus; which functions as a game apparatus main body inthe exemplary embodiment) 2, a left controller 3, and a right controller4. Each of the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 isattachable to and detachable from the main body apparatus 2. That is,the game system 1 can be used as a unified apparatus obtained byattaching each of the left controller 3 and the right controller 4 tothe main body apparatus 2. Further, in the game system 1, the main bodyapparatus 2, the left controller 3, and the right controller 4 can alsobe used as separate bodies (see FIG. 2). Hereinafter, first, thehardware configuration of the game system 1 according to the exemplaryembodiment is described, and then, the control of the game system 1according to the exemplary embodiment is described.

1-1. Main Body Apparatus

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the state where the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 are attached to the main bodyapparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the left controller 3 and theright controller 4 is attached to and unified with the main bodyapparatus 2. The main body apparatus 2 is an apparatus for performingvarious processes (e.g., game processing) in the game system 1. The mainbody apparatus 2 includes a display 12. Each of the left controller 3and the right controller 4 is an apparatus including operation sectionswith which a user provides inputs.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the state where each of theleft controller 3 and the right controller 4 is detached from the mainbody apparatus 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left controller 3 andthe right controller 4 are attachable to and detachable from the mainbody apparatus 2. It should be noted that hereinafter, the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 will occasionally be referred tocollectively as a “controller”.

FIG. 3 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the main bodyapparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body apparatus 2 includes anapproximately plate-shaped housing 11. In the exemplary embodiment, amain surface (in other words, a surface on a front side, i.e., a surfaceon which the display 12 is provided) of the housing 11 has a generallyrectangular shape.

It should be noted that the shape and the size of the housing 11 areoptional. As an example, the housing 11 may be of a portable size.Further, the main body apparatus 2 alone or the unified apparatusobtained by attaching the left controller 3 and the right controller 4to the main body apparatus 2 may function as a mobile apparatus. Themain body apparatus 2 or the unified apparatus may function as ahandheld apparatus or a portable apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body apparatus 2 includes the display 12,which is provided on the main surface of the housing 11. The display 12displays an image generated by the main body apparatus 2. In theexemplary embodiment, the display 12 is a liquid crystal display device(LCD). The display 12, however, may be a display device of any type.

Further, the main body apparatus 2 includes a touch panel 13 on a screenof the display 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the touch panel 13 is ofa type that allows a multi-touch input (e.g., a capacitive type). Thetouch panel 13, however, may be of any type, and for example, the touchpanel 13 may be of a type that allows a single-touch input (e.g., aresistive type).

The main body apparatus 2 includes speakers (i.e., speakers 88 shown inFIG. 6) within the housing 11. As shown in FIG. 3, speaker holes 11 aand 11 b are formed on the main surface of the housing 11. Then, soundsoutput from the speakers 88 are output through the speaker holes 11 aand 11 b.

Further, the main body apparatus 2 includes a left terminal 17, which isa terminal for the main body apparatus 2 to perform wired communicationwith the left controller 3, and a right terminal 21, which is a terminalfor the main body apparatus 2 to perform wired communication with theright controller 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body apparatus 2 includes a slot 23. Theslot 23 is provided on an upper side surface of the housing 11. The slot23 is so shaped as to allow a predetermined type of storage medium to beattached to the slot 23. The predetermined type of storage medium is,for example, a dedicated storage medium (e.g., a dedicated memory card)for the game system 1 and an information processing apparatus of thesame type as the game system 1. The predetermined type of storage mediumis used to store, for example, data (e.g., saved data of an applicationor the like) used by the main body apparatus 2 and/or a program (e.g., aprogram for an application or the like) executed by the main bodyapparatus 2. Further, the main body apparatus 2 includes a power button28.

A lower surface (predetermined surface) of the main body apparatus 2includes a lower terminal 27. The lower terminal 27 is a terminal forthe main body apparatus 2 to communicate with a cradle and the chargingdevice, which will be described later, to perform charging. In theexemplary embodiment, the lower terminal 27 is a USB connector (morespecifically, a female connector), and a male connector of a chargingdevice 1000, which will be described later, is inserted into this femaleconnector (connector insertion port) 27. Further, when the unifiedapparatus or the main body apparatus 2 alone is mounted on the cradle,the game system 1 can display on a stationary monitor an image generatedby and output from the main body apparatus 2. Further, in the exemplaryembodiment, the cradle has the function of charging the unifiedapparatus or the main body apparatus 2 alone mounted on the cradle.Further, the cradle has the function of a hub device (specifically, aUSB hub).

Also, the center of the main body apparatus 2 in the left-rightdirection is provided with a groove (recessed portion) 29 that has arectangular shape in a front view and extends upward from the portion atwhich the lower surface and the back surface are linked. This recessedportion 29 is formed to have a rectangular cross-section by a bottomsurface 291 and side wall surfaces 292 on both the right and left sidesof the bottom surface 291. Also, this groove 29 is formed at a positioncorresponding with the female connector 27 in the left-right direction,and is formed rearward of the female connector 27. Thus, the femaleconnector 27 and the bottom surface 291 of the groove 29 are locatedapart from each other by a predetermined distance.

1-2. Left Controller

FIG. 4 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the left controller3. As shown in FIG. 4, the left controller 3 includes a housing 31. Inthe exemplary embodiment, the housing 31 has a vertically long shape,i.e., is shaped to be long in an up-down direction (i.e., a y-axisdirection shown in FIGS. 1 and 4). In the state where the leftcontroller 3 is detached from the main body apparatus 2, the leftcontroller 3 can also be held in the orientation in which the leftcontroller 3 is vertically long. The housing 31 has such a shape and asize that when held in the orientation in which the housing 31 isvertically long, the housing 31 can be held with one hand, particularlythe left hand. Further, the left controller 3 can also be held in theorientation in which the left controller 3 is horizontally long. Whenheld in the orientation in which the left controller 3 is horizontallylong, the left controller 3 may be held with both hands.

The left controller 3 includes an analog stick 32. As shown in FIG. 4,the analog stick 32 is provided on a main surface of the housing 31. Theanalog stick 32 can be used as a direction input section with which adirection can be input. The user tilts the analog stick 32 and therebycan input a direction corresponding to the direction of the tilt (andinput a magnitude corresponding to the angle of the tilt). It should benoted that the left controller 3 may include a directional pad, a slidestick that allows a slide input, or the like as the direction inputsection, instead of the analog stick. Further, in the exemplaryembodiment, it is possible to provide an input by pressing the analogstick 32.

The left controller 3 includes various operation buttons. The leftcontroller 3 includes four operation buttons 33 to 36 (specifically, aright direction button 33, a down direction button 34, an up directionbutton 35, and a left direction button 36) on the main surface of thehousing 31. Further, the left controller 3 includes a record button 37and a “−” (minus) button 47. The left controller 3 includes a firstL-button 38 and a ZL-button 39 in an upper left portion of a sidesurface of the housing 31. Further, the left controller 3 includes asecond L-button 43 and a second R-button 44, on the side surface of thehousing 31 on which the left controller 3 is attached to the main bodyapparatus 2. These operation buttons are used to give instructionsdepending on various programs (e.g., an OS program and an applicationprogram) executed by the main body apparatus 2.

Further, the left controller 3 includes a terminal 42 for the leftcontroller 3 to perform wired communication with the main body apparatus2.

1-3. Right Controller

FIG. 5 is six orthogonal views showing an example of the rightcontroller 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the right controller 4 includes ahousing 51. In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 51 has a verticallylong shape, i.e., is shaped to be long in the up-down direction. In thestate where the right controller 4 is detached from the main bodyapparatus 2, the right controller 4 can also be held in the orientationin which the right controller 4 is vertically long. The housing 51 hassuch a shape and a size that when held in the orientation in which thehousing 51 is vertically long, the housing 51 can be held with one hand,particularly the right hand. Further, the right controller 4 can also beheld in the orientation in which the right controller 4 is horizontallylong. When held in the orientation in which the right controller 4 ishorizontally long, the right controller 4 may be held with both hands.Here, for convenience of the description, the outer surface of thehousing 51 of the right controller 4 is defined as follows. That is, thehousing 51 is formed in an approximate rectangular parallelepiped shape,and includes a rectangular first main surface whose longitudinaldirection is the up-down direction, and a second main surface that isopposite to the first main surface. Further, in the housing 51, theupper end surface in the longitudinal direction of these main surfacesconstitutes a first end surface, and the lower end surface constitutes asecond end surface. Also, a right side surface in the transversedirection of both main surfaces constitutes a first side end surface,and a left side surface constitutes a second side end surface. Note thata left end portion of the first end surface has a flat surface orientedupward in the longitudinal direction, and the first end surface isconfigured to be curved downward to the right side, and is linked to theupper end of the first side end surface. As described later, a curvedfirst R-button 60 is disposed on this first end surface. Similarly, aleft end portion of the second end surface has a flat surface orienteddownward in the longitudinal direction, and the second end surface isconfigured to be curved upward to the right side, and is linked to thelower end of the first side end surface. An infrared image capturingsection 123 and an infrared light-emitting section 124, which will bedescribed later, are disposed on this second end surface.

Similarly to the left controller 3, the right controller 4 includes ananalog stick 52 as a direction input section. In the exemplaryembodiment, the analog stick 52 has the same configuration as that ofthe analog stick 32 of the left controller 3. Further, the rightcontroller 4 may include a directional pad, a cross key, a slide stickthat allows a slide input, or the like, instead of the analog stick.Further, similarly to the left controller 3, the right controller 4includes four operation buttons 53 to 56 (specifically, an A-button 53,a B-button 54, an X-button 55, and a Y-button 56) on a main surface ofthe housing 51. Further, the right controller 4 includes a “+” (plus)button 57 and a home button 58. The operation buttons 53 to 58 and theanalog stick 32 that are provided on the first main surface of the rightcontroller 4 are examples of the first operation section of the presentdisclosure. Further, the right controller 4 includes a curved firstR-button 60 on a first end surface of the housing 51 and a ZR-button 61that protrudes toward the back surface and can be pushed from above onthe back surface side of the first R-button 60. Further, a raisedportion 500 is formed below this ZR button 61. This raised portion 500is a site protruding from the second main surface, and has an inclinedsurface that extends toward the second main surface downward from theZR-button 61. Here, the first R-button 60 is an example of the secondoperation section of the present disclosure, and the ZR-button 61 andthe raised portion 500 are examples of the third operation section.Further, similarly to the left controller 3, the right controller 4includes a second L-button 65 and a second R-button 66.

Further, a window portion 68 is provided on a second end surface of thehousing 51. Although the details will be described later, the rightcontroller 4 includes an infrared image capturing section 123 and aninfrared light-emitting section 124, which are placed within the housing51. The infrared image capturing section 123 captures a portion aroundthe right controller 4 through the window portion 68 such that a downdirection of the right controller 4 (a negative y-axis direction shownin FIG. 5) is the image capturing direction. The infrared light-emittingsection 124 emits infrared light through the window portion 68 to animage capturing target to be captured by the infrared image capturingsection 123 such that a predetermined range about the down direction ofthe right controller 4 (the negative y-axis direction shown in FIG. 5)is the emission range. The window portion 68 is used to protect a lensof a camera of the infrared image capturing section 123, a light emitterof the infrared light-emitting section 124, and the like and composed ofa material (e.g., a transparent material) that transmits light of awavelength sensed by the camera and light emitted from the lightemitter. It should be noted that the window portion 68 may be a holeformed in the housing 51. It should be noted that in the exemplaryembodiment, the infrared image capturing section 123 itself includes afilter member for inhibiting the transmission of light of a wavelengthother than light sensed by the camera (infrared light in the exemplaryembodiment). In another exemplary embodiment, the window portion 68 mayhave the function of a filter.

Further, although the details will be described later, the rightcontroller 4 includes an NFC communication section 122. The NFCcommunication section 122 performs short-range wireless communicationbased on the NFC (Near Field Communication) standard. The NFCcommunication section 122 includes an antenna 122 a, which is used forshort-range wireless communication, and a circuit (e.g., an NFC chip)for generating a signal (a radio wave) to be sent from the antenna 122a. It should be noted that the NFC communication section 122 may performshort-range wireless communication through any proximity communication(or contactless communication), instead of performing short-rangewireless communication based on the NFC standard. Here, the NFC standardcan be used for proximity communication (contactless communication), and“may perform short-range wireless communication through any proximitycommunication (or contactless communication)” is intended to mean thatshort-range wireless communication may be performed through otherproximity communication except for proximity communication based on theNFC standard.

Further, the right controller 4 includes a terminal 64 for the rightcontroller 4 to perform wired communication with the main body apparatus2.

1-4. Internal Configuration of Main Body Apparatus

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the internalconfiguration of the main body apparatus 2. The main body apparatus 2includes components 81 to 91, 97, and 98 shown in FIG. 6 in addition tothe components shown in FIG. 3. Some of the components 81 to 91, 97, and98 may be mounted as electronic components on an electronic circuitboard and accommodated in the housing 11.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a processor 81. The processor 81 isan information processing section for executing various types ofinformation processing to be executed by the main body apparatus 2. Forexample, the processor 81 may be composed only of a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit), or may be composed of a SoC (System-on-a-chip) havinga plurality of functions such as a CPU function and a GPU (GraphicsProcessing Unit) function. The processor 81 executes an informationprocessing program (e.g., a game program) stored in a storage section(specifically, an internal storage medium such as a flash memory 84, anexternal storage medium attached to the slot 23, or the like), therebyperforming the various types of information processing.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a flash memory 84 and a DRAM (DynamicRandom Access Memory) 85 as examples of internal storage media builtinto the main body apparatus 2. The flash memory 84 and the DRAM 85 areconnected to the processor 81. The flash memory 84 is a memory mainlyused to store various data (or programs) to be saved in the main bodyapparatus 2. The DRAM 85 is a memory used to temporarily store variousdata used for information processing.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a slot interface (hereinafterabbreviated as “I/F”) 91. The slot I/F 91 is connected to the processor81. The slot I/F 91 is connected to the slot 23, and in accordance withan instruction from the processor 81, reads and writes data from and tothe predetermined type of storage medium (e.g., a dedicated memory card)attached to the slot 23.

The processor 81 appropriately reads and writes data from and to theflash memory 84, the DRAM 85, and each of the above storage media,thereby performing the above information processing.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a network communication section 82.The network communication section 82 is connected to the processor 81.The network communication section 82 communicates (specifically, throughwireless communication) with an external apparatus via a network. In theexemplary embodiment, as a first communication form, the networkcommunication section 82 connects to a wireless LAN and communicateswith an external apparatus, using a method compliant with the Wi-Fistandard. Further, as a second communication form, the networkcommunication section 82 wirelessly communicates with another main bodyapparatus 2 of the same type, using a predetermined communication method(e.g., communication based on a unique protocol or infrared lightcommunication). It should be noted that the wireless communication inthe above second communication form achieves the function of enablingso-called “local communication” in which the main body apparatus 2 canwirelessly communicate with another main body apparatus 2 placed in aclosed local network area, and the plurality of main body apparatuses 2directly communicate with each other to transmit and receive data.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a controller communication section83. The controller communication section 83 is connected to theprocessor 81. The controller communication section 83 wirelesslycommunicates with the left controller 3 and/or the right controller 4.The communication method between the main body apparatus 2 and the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4 is optional. In the exemplaryembodiment, the controller communication section 83 performscommunication compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark)standard with the left controller 3 and with the right controller 4.

The processor 81 is connected to the left terminal 17, the rightterminal 21, and the lower terminal 27. When performing wiredcommunication with the left controller 3, the processor 81 transmitsdata to the left controller 3 via the left terminal 17 and also receivesoperation data from the left controller 3 via the left terminal 17.Further, when performing wired communication with the right controller4, the processor 81 transmits data to the right controller 4 via theright terminal 21 and also receives operation data from the rightcontroller 4 via the right terminal 21. Further, when communicating withthe cradle, the processor 81 transmits data to the cradle via the lowerterminal 27. As described above, in the exemplary embodiment, the mainbody apparatus 2 can perform both wired communication and wirelesscommunication with each of the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4. Further, when the unified apparatus obtained by attachingthe left controller 3 and the right controller 4 to the main bodyapparatus 2 or the main body apparatus 2 alone is attached to thecradle, the main body apparatus 2 can output data (e.g., image data orsound data) to the stationary monitor or the like via the cradle.

Here, the main body apparatus 2 can communicate with a plurality of leftcontrollers 3 simultaneously (in other words, in parallel). Further, themain body apparatus 2 can communicate with a plurality of rightcontrollers 4 simultaneously (in other words, in parallel). Thus, aplurality of users can simultaneously provide inputs to the main bodyapparatus 2, each using a set of the left controller 3 and the rightcontroller 4. As an example, a first user can provide an input to themain body apparatus 2 using a first set of the left controller 3 and theright controller 4, and simultaneously, a second user can provide aninput to the main body apparatus 2 using a second set of the leftcontroller 3 and the right controller 4.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a touch panel controller 86, which isa circuit for controlling the touch panel 13. The touch panel controller86 is connected between the touch panel 13 and the processor 81. Basedon a signal from the touch panel 13, the touch panel controller 86generates, for example, data indicating the position where a touch inputis provided. Then, the touch panel controller 86 outputs the data to theprocessor 81.

Further, the display 12 is connected to the processor 81. The processor81 displays a generated image (e.g., an image generated by executing theabove information processing) and/or an externally acquired image on thedisplay 12.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a codec circuit 87 and speakers(specifically, a left speaker and a right speaker) 88. The codec circuit87 is connected to the speakers 88 and a sound input/output terminal 25and also connected to the processor 81. The codec circuit 87 is acircuit for controlling the input and output of sound data to and fromthe speakers 88 and the sound input/output terminal 25.

Further, the main body apparatus 2 includes an acceleration sensor 89.In the exemplary embodiment, the acceleration sensor 89 detects themagnitudes of accelerations along predetermined three axial (e.g., xyzaxes shown in FIG. 1) directions. It should be noted that theacceleration sensor 89 may detect an acceleration along one axialdirection or accelerations along two axial directions.

Further, the main body apparatus 2 includes an angular velocity sensor90. In the exemplary embodiment, the angular velocity sensor 90 detectsangular velocities about predetermined three axes (e.g., the xyz axesshown in FIG. 1). It should be noted that the angular velocity sensor 90may detect an angular velocity about one axis or angular velocitiesabout two axes.

The acceleration sensor 89 and the angular velocity sensor 90 areconnected to the processor 81, and the detection results of theacceleration sensor 89 and the angular velocity sensor 90 are output tothe processor 81. Based on the detection results of the accelerationsensor 89 and the angular velocity sensor 90, the processor 81 cancalculate information regarding the motion and/or the orientation of themain body apparatus 2.

The main body apparatus 2 includes a power control section 97 and abattery 98. The power control section 97 is connected to the battery 98and the processor 81. Further, although not shown in FIG. 6, the powercontrol section 97 is connected to components of the main body apparatus2 (specifically, components that receive power supplied from the battery98, the left terminal 17, and the right terminal 21). Based on a commandfrom the processor 81, the power control section 97 controls the supplyof power from the battery 98 to the above components.

Further, the battery 98 is connected to the lower terminal 27. When anexternal charging device (e.g., the cradle) is connected to the lowerterminal 27, and power is supplied to the main body apparatus 2 via thelower terminal 27, the battery 98 is charged with the supplied power.

1-5. Internal Configuration of Controller

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing examples of the internalconfigurations of the main body apparatus 2, the left controller 3, andthe right controller 4. It should be noted that the details of theinternal configuration of the main body apparatus 2 are shown in FIG. 6and therefore are omitted in FIG. 7.

The left controller 3 includes a communication control section 101,which communicates with the main body apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 7,the communication control section 101 is connected to componentsincluding the terminal 42. In the exemplary embodiment, thecommunication control section 101 can communicate with the main bodyapparatus 2 through both wired communication via the terminal 42 andwireless communication not via the terminal 42. The communicationcontrol section 101 controls the method for communication performed bythe left controller 3 with the main body apparatus 2. That is, when theleft controller 3 is attached to the main body apparatus 2, thecommunication control section 101 communicates with the main bodyapparatus 2 via the terminal 42. Further, when the left controller 3 isdetached from the main body apparatus 2, the communication controlsection 101 wirelessly communicates with the main body apparatus 2(specifically, the controller communication section 83). The wirelesscommunication between the communication control section 101 and thecontroller communication section 83 is performed in accordance with theBluetooth (registered trademark) standard, for example.

Further, the left controller 3 includes a memory 102 such as a flashmemory. The communication control section 101 includes, for example, amicrocomputer (or a microprocessor) and executes firmware stored in thememory 102, thereby performing various processes.

The left controller 3 includes buttons 103 (specifically, the buttons 33to 39, 43, 44, and 47). Further, the left controller 3 includes theanalog stick (“stick” in FIG. 7) 32. Each of the buttons 103 and theanalog stick 32 outputs information regarding an operation performed onitself to the communication control section 101 repeatedly atappropriate timing.

The left controller 3 includes inertial sensors. Specifically, the leftcontroller 3 includes an acceleration sensor 104. Further, the leftcontroller 3 includes an angular velocity sensor 105. In the exemplaryembodiment, the acceleration sensor 104 detects the magnitudes ofaccelerations along predetermined three axial (e.g., xyz axes shown inFIG. 4) directions. It should be noted that the acceleration sensor 104may detect an acceleration along one axial direction or accelerationsalong two axial directions. In the exemplary embodiment, the angularvelocity sensor 105 detects angular velocities about predetermined threeaxes (e.g., the xyz axes shown in FIG. 4). It should be noted that theangular velocity sensor 105 may detect an angular velocity about oneaxis or angular velocities about two axes. Each of the accelerationsensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105 is connected to thecommunication control section 101. Then, the detection results of theacceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor 105 are outputto the communication control section 101 repeatedly at appropriatetiming.

The communication control section 101 acquires information regarding aninput (specifically, information regarding an operation or the detectionresult of the sensor) from each of input sections (specifically, thebuttons 103, the analog stick 32, and the sensors 104 and 105). Thecommunication control section 101 transmits operation data including theacquired information (or information obtained by performingpredetermined processing on the acquired information) to the main bodyapparatus 2. It should be noted that the operation data is transmittedrepeatedly, once every predetermined time. It should be noted that theinterval at which the information regarding an input is transmitted fromeach of the input sections to the main body apparatus 2 may or may notbe the same.

The above operation data is transmitted to the main body apparatus 2,whereby the main body apparatus 2 can obtain inputs provided to the leftcontroller 3. That is, the main body apparatus 2 can determineoperations on the buttons 103 and the analog stick 32 based on theoperation data. Further, the main body apparatus 2 can calculateinformation regarding the motion and/or the orientation of the leftcontroller 3 based on the operation data (specifically, the detectionresults of the acceleration sensor 104 and the angular velocity sensor105).

The left controller 3 includes a vibrator 107 for giving notification tothe user by a vibration. In the exemplary embodiment, the vibrator 107is controlled by a command from the main body apparatus 2. That is, ifreceiving the above command from the main body apparatus 2, thecommunication control section 101 drives the vibrator 107 in accordancewith the received command. Here, the left controller 3 includes a codecsection 106. If receiving the above command, the communication controlsection 101 outputs a control signal corresponding to the command to thecodec section 106. The codec section 106 generates a driving signal fordriving the vibrator 107 from the control signal from the communicationcontrol section 101 and outputs the driving signal to the vibrator 107.Consequently, the vibrator 107 operates.

More specifically, the vibrator 107 is a linear vibration motor. Unlikea regular motor that rotationally moves, the linear vibration motor isdriven in a predetermined direction in accordance with an input voltageand therefore can be vibrated at an amplitude and a frequencycorresponding to the waveform of the input voltage. In the exemplaryembodiment, a vibration control signal transmitted from the main bodyapparatus 2 to the left controller 3 may be a digital signalrepresenting the frequency and the amplitude every unit of time. Inanother exemplary embodiment, the main body apparatus 2 may transmitinformation indicating the waveform itself. The transmission of only theamplitude and the frequency, however, enables a reduction in the amountof communication data. Additionally, to further reduce the amount ofdata, only the differences between the numerical values of the amplitudeand the frequency at that time and the previous values may betransmitted, instead of the numerical values. In this case, the codecsection 106 converts a digital signal indicating the values of theamplitude and the frequency acquired from the communication controlsection 101 into the waveform of an analog voltage and inputs a voltagein accordance with the resulting waveform, thereby driving the vibrator107. Thus, the main body apparatus 2 changes the amplitude and thefrequency to be transmitted every unit of time and thereby can controlthe amplitude and the frequency at which the vibrator 107 is to bevibrated at that time. It should be noted that not only a singleamplitude and a single frequency, but also two or more amplitudes andtwo or more frequencies may be transmitted from the main body apparatus2 to the left controller 3. In this case, the codec section 106 combineswaveforms indicated by the plurality of received amplitudes andfrequencies and thereby can generate the waveform of a voltage forcontrolling the vibrator 107.

The left controller 3 includes a power supply section 108. In theexemplary embodiment, the power supply section 108 includes a batteryand a power control circuit. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the powercontrol circuit is connected to the battery and also connected tocomponents of the left controller 3 (specifically, components thatreceive power supplied from the battery).

As shown in FIG. 7, the right controller 4 includes a communicationcontrol section 111, which communicates with the main body apparatus 2.Further, the right controller 4 includes a memory 112, which isconnected to the communication control section 111. The communicationcontrol section 111 is connected to components including the terminal64. The communication control section 111 and the memory 112 havefunctions similar to those of the communication control section 101 andthe memory 102, respectively, of the left controller 3. Thus, thecommunication control section 111 can communicate with the main bodyapparatus 2 through both wired communication via the terminal 64 andwireless communication not via the terminal 64 (specifically,communication compliant with the Bluetooth (registered trademark)standard). The communication control section 111 controls the method forcommunication performed by the right controller 4 with the main bodyapparatus 2.

The right controller 4 includes input sections similar to the inputsections of the left controller 3. Specifically, the right controller 4includes buttons 113, the analog stick 52, and inertial sensors (anacceleration sensor 114 and an angular velocity sensor 115). These inputsections have functions similar to those of the input sections of theleft controller 3 and operate similarly to the input sections of theleft controller 3.

Further, the right controller 4 includes a vibrator 117 and a codecsection 116. The vibrator 117 and the codec section 116 operatesimilarly to the vibrator 107 and the codec section 106, respectively,of the left controller 3. That is, in accordance with a command from themain body apparatus 2, the communication control section 111 causes thevibrator 117 to operate, using the codec section 116.

The right controller 4 includes the NFC communication section 122, whichperforms short-range wireless communication based on the NFC standard.The NFC communication section 122 has the function of a so-called NFCreader/writer. Here, the term “short-range wireless communication” asused herein includes a communication method where a radio wave from anapparatus (here, the right controller 4) develops an electromotive force(e.g., by electromagnetic induction) in another device (here, a devicenear the antenna 122 a). The other device can operate by the developedelectromotive force, and may or may not have a power supply. When theright controller 4 (the antenna 122 a) and a communication target comeclose to each other (typically, the distance between the rightcontroller 4 and the communication target becomes dozen centimeters orless), the NFC communication section 122 becomes able to communicatewith the communication target. The communication target is any apparatuscapable of performing short-range wireless communication with the NFCcommunication section 122 and is, for example, an NFC tag or a storagemedium having the function of an NFC tag. Alternatively, thecommunication target may be another apparatus having an NFC cardemulation function.

Further, the right controller 4 includes the infrared image capturingsection 123 on the second end surface. The infrared image capturingsection 123 includes an infrared camera for capturing a portion aroundthe right controller 4. As an example, the main body apparatus 2 and/orthe right controller 4 calculate information of a captured image (e.g.,information related to the luminance of a plurality of blocks into whichat least the entirety of a partial area of a captured image is dividedor the like), and based on the calculated information, determine achange in the portion around the right controller 4. Further, theinfrared image capturing section 123 may capture an image using ambientlight, but in the exemplary embodiment, includes the infraredlight-emitting section 124, which emits infrared light. The infraredlight-emitting section 124 emits infrared light, for example, insynchronization with the timing when the infrared camera captures animage. Then, the infrared light emitted from the infrared light-emittingsection 124 is reflected by an image capturing target, and the infraredcamera receives the reflected infrared light, thereby acquiring an imageof the infrared light. This enables the infrared image capturing section123 to obtain a clearer infrared light image. It should be noted thatthe infrared image capturing section 123 and the infrared light-emittingsection 124 may be provided as different devices in the right controller4, or may be provided as a single device in the same package in theright controller 4. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, the infraredimage capturing section 123 including an infrared camera is used. Inanother exemplary embodiment, a visible light camera (a camera using avisible light image sensor) may be used as image capturing means,instead of the infrared camera.

The right controller 4 includes a processing section 121. The processingsection 121 is connected to the communication control section 111.Further, the processing section 121 is connected to the NFCcommunication section 122, the infrared image capturing section 123, andthe infrared light-emitting section 124. In accordance with a commandfrom the main body apparatus 2, the processing section 121 performs theprocess of managing the NFC communication section 122. For example, inaccordance with a command from the main body apparatus 2, the processingsection 121 controls the operation of the NFC communication section 122.Further, the processing section 121 controls the start of the NFCcommunication section 122 or controls the operations (specifically,reading, writing, and the like) of the NFC communication section 122performed on a communication target (e.g., an NFC tag). Further, theprocessing section 121 receives, from the main body apparatus 2,information to be transmitted to the communication target via thecommunication control section 111 and passes the information to the NFCcommunication section 122. Further, the processing section 121 acquires,from the NFC communication section 122, information received from thecommunication target and transmits the information to the main bodyapparatus 2 via the communication control section 111.

Further, the processing section 121 includes a CPU, a memory, and thelike.

Based on a predetermined program (e.g., an application program forperforming image processing and various calculations) stored in astorage device (e.g., a non-volatile memory or the like) (not shown)included in the right controller 4, and in accordance with a commandfrom the main body apparatus 2, the processing section 121 performs theprocess of managing the infrared image capturing section 123. Forexample, the processing section 121 causes the infrared image capturingsection 123 to perform an image capturing operation. Further, theprocessing section 121 acquires and/or calculates information based onan image capturing result (information of a captured image, informationcalculated from this information, or the like) and transmits theinformation to the main body apparatus 2 via the communication controlsection 111. Further, in accordance with a command from the main bodyapparatus 2, the processing section 121 performs the process of managingthe infrared light-emitting section 124. For example, in accordance witha command from the main body apparatus 2, the processing section 121controls the light emission of the infrared light-emitting section 124.It should be noted that a memory used by the processing section 121 toperform processing may be provided in the processing section 121 or maybe the memory 112.

The right controller 4 includes a power supply section 118. The powersupply section 118 has a function similar to that of the power supplysection 108 of the left controller 3 and operates similarly to the powersupply section 108.

2. Charging Device

Next, an electric conduction apparatus according to the exemplaryembodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. It shouldbe noted that the following description is based on the directions shownin FIG. 8, and with regard to the other diagrams as well, thedescription will be given based on the directions shown in FIG. 8. Notethat, as shown in FIG. 12 that will be described later, although thecharging device is disposed tilted, regardless of this orientation, theside on which the front surface of the extension portion of the housingis located is referred to as “front”, the side on which the back surfaceof the extension portion that is opposite thereto is located is referredto as “back”, and these directions are the directions used to describethe charging device according to the exemplary embodiment in thisspecification.

2-1. Summary of Charging Device

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the charging device. As shown in FIG. 8,this charging device 1000 mainly includes a housing 100 formed in anL-shape in a side view, a connector support member 120 attached to thefront surface side of the housing 110, and a plate-shaped stand member130 attached to the back surface of this housing 110. Hereinafter, thesemembers and accessory members built in these members will be describedin detail.

2-1-1. Housing

Next, the housing 100 will be described also with reference to FIG. 9.FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the charging device viewed from the backsurface side, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where thestand member is pivoted in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is an explodedperspective view of the housing. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, this housing100 includes a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 71 extending inthe front-back direction, and a rectangular parallelepiped extensionportion 72 extending upward from the rear end portion of this baseportion 71, and the L-shape in a side view is formed by combining thebase portion 71 and the extension portion 72. An upper surface (alsoreferred to as “support surface”) 711 of the base portion 71 has arectangular shape, and can support the game system 1. Further, a frontsurface 721 of the extension portion 72 is continuous with the uppersurface 711 of the base portion 71 and extends upward, and a portion atwhich the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71 and the front surface721 of the extension portion 72 are linked together is curved in an arcshape in a side view. Also, a front opening 73 that is in communicationwith the internal space of the housing 100 is formed extending from thevicinity of the center of the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71to the vicinity of the center of the front surface 721 of the extensionportion 72. This front opening 73 is formed such that a rectangularthrough-hole formed in the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71links with a rectangular through-hole formed in the front surface 721 ofthe extension portion 72. Further, the above-described connector supportmember 120 is fitted into this front opening 73.

The lower surface 722 of the extension portion 72 of the housing isformed by a curved surface that links the lower surface 712 of the baseportion 71 and the back surface 723 of the extension portion 72 and isformed in an arc shape in a side view. Band-shaped anti-slip members 731are attached to both sides of this lower surface 722, and these membersplay the role of slip prevention. It should be noted that the anti-slipmembers 731 can be made of rubber, silicone, or the like.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the housing 100 is constituted by a rearpanel 100A, which is constituted by the back surface 723 of theextension portion 72, the lower surface 722 of the extension portion 72,and the lower surface of the base portion 71, being combined with afront panel 100B constituted by the outer surfaces other than this rearpanel 100A.

2-1-2. Stand Member and Linking Mechanism for Linking Housing and StandMember

Next, the stand member 130 and the linking mechanism for linking thehousing 100 and the stand member 130 will be described also withreference to FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a side view of the charging deviceinstalled on an installation surface in a tilted state.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stand member 130 is formed in arectangular plate-shape, and is attached to the back surface of thehousing 100, that is, the back surface 723 of the extension portion 72.More specifically, the vicinity of an upper end portion of the standmember 130 is attached to the vicinity of an upper end portion of theback surface 723 of the housing 100 so as to be pivotable along an axisline 51 (second axis line) that extends in the left-right direction.Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12, the angle of the stand member 130 withrespect to the housing 100 can be changed in a state where the lowersurface 722 of the housing 100 and the lower end portion 131 of thestand member 130 are in contact with an installation surface D. That is,it is possible to change the angle at which the housing 100 isinstalled.

This stand member 130 has substantially the same size as the backsurface 723 of the extension portion 72, and its lower end portion 131is slightly curved forward. The lower end portion of the stand member130 is formed so as to extend along the lower surface 722 of theextension portion 72 when, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the standmember 130 is brought into contact with the back surface 723 of thehousing 100 by changing the angle of the stand member 130 with respectto the housing 100.

On the other hand, the vicinity of an upper portion of the front surfaceof the stand member 130 is provided with a fixing tool 140 that is aportion of the linking mechanism.

Next, the linking mechanism will be described in detail. FIG. 13 is anexploded perspective view of the housing, the linking mechanism, and thestand member, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-Ain FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 13, a rectangular rear opening 74 is formedin the vicinity of the upper end of the back surface 723 of theextension portion 72, and the rear opening 74 is in communication withthe internal space of the housing 100. Also, the internal space of thehousing 100 accommodates a support member (first site) 75 thatconstitutes the linking mechanism, a pair of torque hinges (hingeportions) 76 attached to this support member 75, and a pivoting member(second site) 77 attached to the support member 75 via these torquehinges 76.

As shown in FIG. 13, the support member 75 includes a plate-shapedlinking plate 751 and a pair of support portions 752 attached to leftand right sides of this linking plate 751. The linking plate 751 isdisposed so as to cover a portion of the rear opening 74 of the backsurface 723 of the housing 100 from the internal space side. The supportportions 752 each have a cylindrical mounting space 753, and the torquehinges 76 are fitted into these mounting spaces 753. The two torquehinges 76 are then disposed protruding from the support portions 752 soas to face each other.

A known torque hinge can be used as the torque hinge 76, and the torquehinge 76 includes a cylindrical external tube 761 and a cylindricalshaft portion 762 that is fitted into this external tube 761, and theshaft portion 762 is rotatably attached to the external tube 761. Atthis time, the shaft portion 762 cannot rotate with respect to theexternal tube 761 unless a predetermined torque is applied, and as willbe described later, the stand member 130 can steplessly adjust the angleof pivoting with respect to the housing 100. (Also, this angle can bekept as long as the applied force is approximately the predeterminedtorque or less.) The external tube 761 is fitted into the supportportion 752 of the support member 75, and the shaft portion 762protrudes from the external tube 761 and is fitted into the pivotingmember 77.

The pivoting member 77 is disposed between the two support portions 752of the support member 75. More specifically, the pivoting member 77includes a cylindrical pivoting portion 771 and a second fixing tool(linking portion) 772 attached to an outer circumferential surface ofthis pivoting portion 771. The pivoting portion 771 is disposed betweenthe support portions 752 of the support member 75, and the shaftportions 762 of the torque hinges 76 protruding from the supportportions 752 are fitted on the two sides of the pivoting portion 771.Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the pivoting member 771 is disposed so as tobe exposed from the vicinity of the upper portion of the rear opening 74of the above-described housing 100, and the second fixing tool 772 isdisposed so as to be exposed from the vicinity of the lower portion ofthe rear opening 74. As shown in FIG. 10, when the pivoting member 771pivots with respect to the support member 75, the second fixing tool 772accommodated in the rear opening 74 protrudes outward from the rearopening 74.

Next, the second fixing tool 772 will be described with reference toFIG. 15 as well. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pivoting member.As shown in FIG. 15, the second fixing tool 772 has a frame member 773that is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and this frame member 773is configured to be open outward in a state shown in FIG. 14 in whichthe second fixing tool 772 is accommodated in the opening 74. Aplate-shaped positioning portion 774 extending in the front-backdirection is formed at the center in the left-right direction in theinner portion of the frame member 773. Also, each of the outer sidesurfaces 775 of the frame member 773 in the left-right direction isprovided with an inclined portion 776 that inclines so as to extendinward from the front end opening of the frame member 773 whileextending in the left-right direction. Further, a portion of each outerside surface 775 that is inward of the inclined portion 776 is providedwith a recessed portion 777, and a protrusion 142 of a fixing piece 141,which will be described later, is fitted to this recessed portion 777.

Next, the first fixing tool 140 of the stand member 130 that is fixed tothis second fixing tool 772 will be described with reference to FIGS. 16and 17. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the stand member, and FIG. 17is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the first fixing tooland the second fixing tool are fixed. As shown in FIG. 17, the firstfixing tool 140 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end portion ofthe front surface of the stand member 130, and the first fixing tool 140includes a pair of plate-shaped fixing pieces (fixing portions) 141configured to sandwich and fix the frame member 773 of the second fixingtool 772. The fixing pieces 141 protrude from the front surface of thestand member 130 so as to face each other. Further, the surfaces, whichface each other, of the leading end portions of the fixing pieces 141are provided with protrusions 142, and as shown in FIG. 17, theprotrusions 142 are fitted to the recessed portions 777 of the secondfixing tool 772.

Also, a plurality of protruding pieces 143 that are to be fitted to theframe member 773 of the second fixing tool 772 are formed between thetwo fixing pieces 141. These protruding pieces 143 are formed inplate-shapes arranged side-by-side in the left-right direction atpredetermined intervals, and the protruding pieces 143 are linkedtogether by the linking portion 144 extending in the left-rightdirection. Further, a positioning portion 774 of the above-describedsecond fixing tool 772 is fitted between the protruding pieces 143. Inthis exemplary embodiment, four protruding pieces 143 are formed, and asshown in FIG. 17, the positioning portion 774 is fitted between twoprotruding pieces 143 at the center.

When the fixing pieces 141 of the first fixing tool 140 are fixed to theframe member 773 of the second fixing tool 772, the two fixing tools 140and 772 are brought close to each other, and the protrusions 142 of thefixing tools 141 are slid on the inclined portions 776 of the framemember 773. When the protrusions 142 of the fixing pieces 141 pass theinclined portions 776, the protrusions 142 are fitted into the recessedportions 777 of the frame member 773. In this process, the protrudingpieces 143 of the first fixing tool 140 are fitted into the frame member773. When the protrusions 142 are fitted into the recessed portions 777in this manner, the two fixing tools 140 and 772 are fixed to eachother, and attachment of the stand member 130 to the housing 100 iscomplete.

It should be noted that the first fixing tool 140 is disposed in thevicinity of the upper end portion of the stand member 130, and thus thestand member 130 extends upward beyond the first fixing tool 140. Asshown in FIG. 18, when the pivoting member 77 has pivoted to theuppermost position, the stand member 130 is approximately perpendicularto the extension portion 72, and when the stand member 130 has furtherpivoted upward, the upper end 132 of the stand member 130 is in contactwith the upper surface 724 of the extension portion 72. When the standmember 130 is further pivoted upward, it pivots with the upper endportion 133 of the stand member 130 serving as the fulcrum on the uppersurface 724 of the extension portion 72, and the state where the firstand second fixing tools 140 and 772 are linked together is released.That is, the protrusions 142 of the two fixing pieces 141 separate fromthe recessed portions 777 of the frame member 773, and the protrudingpieces 143 separate from the frame member 773. As a result, the standmember 130 separates from the housing 100.

2-1-3. Connector Support Member

Next, the connector support member 120 will be described with referenceto FIGS. 19 to 21. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the connectorsupport member, FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the connectorsupport member, and FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing pivotingof the connector support member. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, theconnector support member 120 includes a main body portion 121 that isfitted into the front opening 73 of the housing 100 and has an L-shapein a side view, a connector 122 protruding from this main body portion121, and a first substrate 1231 connected to this connector 122.

The main body portion 121 includes a first site 1245 that is exposedfrom a through-hole of the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71 ofthe housing 100 and has a rectangular shape in plan view, and a secondsite 125 that is exposed from a through-hole of the front surface 721 ofthe extension portion 72 and has a rectangular shape in front view, andthese sites are linked together to form an L-shape. A rectangularthrough-hole 1241 extending in the left-right direction is formed in thevicinity of the center of the first site 1245, and the connector 122protrudes from this through-hole 1241. Further, at the initial positionshown in FIG. 8 at which the main body portion 121 is fitted into thefront opening 73, the upper surface of the first site 1245 and the uppersurface 711 of the base portion 71 form an approximately continuoussurface, and the front surface of the second site 125 and the frontsurface 721 of the extension portion 72 also form an approximatelycontinuous surface. Also, plate-shaped retaining portions 126 extendingin the front-back direction are formed on respective sides of the firstsite 1245. The retaining portions 126 are provided below the uppersurface of the first site 1245, and are configured to engage with theinner surface of the housing 100 on respective sides of the frontopening 73. Thus, the retaining portions 126 prevent the main bodyportion 121 from coming out upward from the front opening 73.

The rear ends of the retaining portions 126 are each provided with ashaft portion (first axis line) 127 that protrudes in the left-rightdirection, and this shaft portion 127 is pivotably attached to the innersurface of the base portion 71, that is, a bearing (not shown) providedon the inner surface of the front panel 100B. That is, the shaft portion127 is disposed rearward of the connector 122. Also, springs (elasticmembers) 128 are attached to the two ends of the lower surface of thefirst site 1245, and each spring 128 is supported between the lowersurface of the first site 1245 and a lower portion of the internal spaceof the base portion 71. Thus, although the main body portion 121 ispressed upward by these springs 128, the main body portion 121 is heldat the initial position by the retaining portions 126 engaging with theinner surface of the housing 100. If an external force is applieddownward to the main body portion 121, the connector 122 pivots downwardfrom the initial position about the shaft portions 127 that serve as thepivoting centers.

Also, the above-described first substrate 1231 is fixed to the lowersurface of the first site 1245 by screws 1232 (see FIG. 20), and theconnector 122 is fixed to this first substrate 1231. Also, as describedabove, the connector 122 attached to the first substrate protrudesupward from the through-hole 1241 of the first site. As described above,this connector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27 of the gamesystem 1.

The connector 122 extends in the left-right direction and is thin in thefront-back direction, is formed in a flattened rectangularparallelepiped shape having a front surface and a back surface 1221 (seeFIG. 23), and is electrically connected to the first substrate 1231. Arear end portion of the first substrate 1231 is disposed atapproximately the same position as the shaft portions 127 of the mainbody portion 121 in the front-back direction, and a deformablebelt-shaped cable is connected to the rear end portion of the firstsubstrate 1231. It should be noted that a USB terminal can be adopted assuch a connector 122.

Also, the front surface of the second site 125 is provided with a guideportion 129 extending upward from the portion at which the first site1245 and the second site 125 are linked together. This guide portion 129is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape protruding forward fromthe front surface of the second site 125, and a front surface of thisguide portion 129 constitutes a facing surface 1291 (hatched portion inFIG. 19) that is parallel to the back surface 1221 of the connector 122.Also, in the guide portion 129, side surfaces (contact surfaces) 1292oriented in the left-right direction are formed on the two sides of thefacing surface 1291. This guide portion 129 is fitted to the groove 29of the above-described game system 1.

More specifically, insertion of the guide portion 129 into the groove 29guides the connector 122 so as to be inserted into the female connector27. Thus, the distance between the female connector 27 and the bottomsurface 291 of the groove 29 in the game system 1 is the same as orslightly smaller than the distance between the connector 122 and thefacing surface 1291. Also, the height of the guide portion 129protruding from the front surface of the second site 125 issubstantially the same as the depth of the groove 29, and the width ofthe guide portion 129 in the left-right direction is the same as orslightly smaller than the width of the groove 29. Further, the distancebetween the female connector 27 and the back surface of the game system1 is substantially the same as the distance between the connector 122and the front surface of the second site 125. When the connector 122 isinserted into the female connector 27, the guide portion 129 is fittedto the groove 29 of the game system 1 due to such a configuration.Accordingly, the facing surface 1291 faces the bottom surface 291 of thegroove 29, that is, the back surface of the game system 1.

As shown in FIG. 21, if an external force is applied downward to theconnector 122, the connector 122 pivots together with the main bodyportion 121 and the first substrate 1231 due to the above-describedconfiguration. At this time, because the shaft portions 127 are disposedrearward of the connector 122, the connector 122 pivots such that theconnector support member 120 sinks downward from the upper surface 711of the base portion 71 while the upper end of the connector 122 istilted forward.

Also, as shown in FIG. 12, when the connector 122 is located at theinitial position, the connector is disposed so as not to protrude from avirtual plane Z that connects the front end of the upper surface 711 ofthe base portion 71 of the housing 100 and the upper end of the frontsurface 721 of the extension portion 72.

2-1-4. Structure for Charging

Subsequently, the structure for charging will be described withreference to FIG. 22 as well. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing theelectrical structure inside the housing together with the connectorsupport member. As shown in FIG. 8, the side surface 726 of theextension portion 72 is provided with a side surface opening 725 for anexternal terminal for connecting an external device. As shown in FIG.22, an external terminal 78 is provided inside the housing 100 incorrespondence with this side surface opening 725. This externalterminal 78 is a female terminal, and is fixed to a second substrate 781disposed in the housing 100. As shown in FIG. 14, the second substrate781 is fixed to the inside of the extension portion 72, and accordingly,the opening of the external terminal 78 is supported so as to coincidewith the side surface opening 725 of the extension portion 72. Also, asshown in FIG. 22, the external terminal 78 and the second substrate 781are electrically connected to each other, and the second substrate 781and the above-described first substrate 1231 are electrically connectedby a flexible flat cable (FFC) 79. Thus, when the first substrate 1231is pivoted together with the connector support member 120, the FFC 79deforms due to this pivoting.

A charging device 1000 according to the exemplary embodiment charges thegame system 1 connected to the connector 122, by a cable (not shown)connected to the external terminal 78. Thus, processing for charging isperformed by various electronic circuits disposed in the first substrate1231 and the second substrate 781.

3. Method for Using Charging Device

3-1. Method for Attaching Game System

Next, a method for using the charging device 1000 configured asdescribed above will be described with reference to FIGS. 23 to 25.FIGS. 23 to 25 are cross-sectional views showing the method forattaching the game system to the charging device. First, a method fordisposing the game system 1 in the charging device 1000 will bedescribed. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the stand member 130 is pivoted,the angle between the housing 100 and the stand member 130 is determinedas appropriate, and the charging device 1000 is installed on theinstallation surface D. That is, the lower surface 722 of the housing100 and the lower end portion 131 of the stand member 130 are in contactwith the installation surface D. Also, a cable (not shown) connected toa power source is connected to the external terminal 78.

Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the display 12 on the front surface of thegame system 1 is turned forward, and the orientation of the game system1 is determined such that the back surface of the game system 1 and thefront surface 721 of the extension portion 72 face each other. Next, thegame system 1 is moved downward such that the connector 122 is insertedinto the female connector 27 of the game system 1. In this process, ifthe game system 1 is lowered such that the back surface of the gamesystem 1 moves along the front surface 721 of the extension portion 72,the guide portion 129 of the charging device 1000 is fitted into thegroove 29. Accordingly, the position of the game system 1 is determined(guided) with respect to the charging device 1000 in the left-rightdirection. If the game system 1 is further lowered, the game system 1moves downward while being guided by the guide portion 129, and theconnector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27.

As shown in FIG. 24, when the front end of the connector 122 reaches adeep-end portion of the female connector 27, a small gap K is formedbetween the lower surface of the game system 1 and the upper surface 711of the base portion 71. Thereafter, the connector support member 120 ispushed downward due to the weight of the game system 1 in a state wherethe connector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27, and as shownin FIG. 26, the lower surface of the game system 1 comes into contactwith the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71. The game system 1 issupported by the charging device 1000 in this manner. In this process,when pressed by the game system 1, the connector support member 120slightly pivots downward about the shaft portions 127 that serve as thepivoting centers.

On the other hand, because the connector support member 120 is pushedupward by the springs 128, in other words, because the connector supportmember 120 is biased upward, the front end of the connector 122 is stillkept in contact with the deep-end portion of the female connector 27. Inthis manner, the game system 1 is charged.

3-2. Method for Adjusting Angle

Subsequently, a method for adjusting the angle of the stand member willbe described with reference to FIGS. 26 and 27 as well. FIGS. 26 and 27are cross-sectional views showing the method for adjusting the angle ofthe stand member. The angle of the stand member 130 may be adjusted bypivoting the stand member 130 held with a hand 400, or the angle mayalso be adjusted as follows. First, in the state shown in FIG. 26, theupper end portion of the game system is tilted rearward while thehousing 100 is pressed against the installation surface D via the gamesystem 1 in a state where both sides of the game system 1, that is, theleft and right controllers 3 and 4, are held with hands. Accordingly,the housing 100 is tilted rearward with the anti-slip members 731 on thelower surface 722 of the housing 100 serving as fulcrums. Along withthis, the lower end portion 131 of the stand member 130 slides on theinstallation surface D, and the distance between the lower end portion131 of the stand member 130 and the lower surface 722 of the housing 100increases. That is, as shown in FIG. 27, the stand member 130 pivotssuch that the angle of the stand member 130 increases with respect tothe housing 100. Accordingly, the inclination of the housing 100 can beadjusted. At this time, the anti-slip members 731 on the lower surface722 of the housing 100 serve as the fulcrums, and thus the housing 100does not slide on the installation surface D, only the stand member 130slides, and the angle of the stand member 130 increases. In this manner,the game system 1 is pressed until the stand member 130 reaches adesired angle. Thereafter, a game can also be played.

It should be noted that with the game system according to the exemplaryembodiment, because the controllers 3 and 4 can be detached from themain body apparatus 2, only the main body apparatus 2 is disposed in thecharging device 1000, and the angle of the housing 100 can also beadjusted with one hand as described above in a state where thecontrollers 3 and 4 are held with the other hand.

3-3. Method for Detaching Game System

In order to detach the game system 1 from the charging device 1000, itis sufficient to pull up the game system 1 along the direction in whichthe connector 122 extends, and the game system 1 can also be detached asfollows. That is, the game system 1 can also be pulled out from theconnector 122 while the upper end of the game system 1 is tiltedforward. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, if the upper end portion ofthe game system 1 is held and tilted forward, a corner portion 150,which is a border portion between the front surface and the lowersurface of the game system 1 (that is, a portion at which the frontsurface and the lower surface of the game system 1 intersect with eachother), comes into contact with a portion of the upper surface (supportsurface) of the base portion 71, and this corner portion 150 serves asthe fulcrum and the game system 1 is tilted. The game system 1 is stablytilted (pivots) by tilting the game system 1 about such a fulcrumwithout sliding. The connector support member 120 pivots forward aboutthe shaft portions 127 along with this. That is, because the connector122 is inserted into the game system 1, the connector 122 is tiltedtogether with the game system 1, and the connector support member 120pivots along with this. At this time, the connector support member 120pivots such that the connector 122 sinks into the upper surface 711 ofthe base portion 71. Thus, the connector 122 gradually escapes from thefemale connector 27 by tilting the game system 1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 29, as tilting of the game system 1 advances, theconnector 122 approximately escapes from the female connector 27, andthus if the game system 1 is further tilted, the connector 122 isunlikely to be caught on the female connector 27, and the game system 1can be detached from the charging device 1000.

4. Characteristics

According to the charging device of the exemplary embodiment, thefollowing effects can be obtained.

(1) The connector support member 120 pivots about the shaft portions 127as the pivoting centers that are located rearward of the connector 122,and thus the connector 122 is configured to move downward while tiltingsuch as the upper end portion of the connector 122 tilts and fallsforward. Thus, if a user attempts to detach the game system 1 from thecharging device 1000 while tilting the game system 1 forward in a statewhere the game system 1 is inserted into the connector 122, theconnector 122 separates from the female connector 27 while being tiltedtogether with the game system 1. Thus, even in the case where attemptsare made to detach the game system 1 from the charging device 1000 whiletilting the game system 1 forward, it is possible to reduce thepossibility that an unnecessary load will be applied to the connector122.

(2) Because the facing surface 1291 disposed rearward of the connector122 is parallel to the direction in which the connector 122 protrudes,when the connector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27, thebottom surface 291 of the groove 29 of the game system 1 can be guidedby the facing surface 1291 in the up-down direction. At this time, thedistance between the connector 122 and the facing surface 1291corresponds to the distance between the female connector 27 and thebottom surface 291 of the groove 29, and thus it is possible to easilydetermine the position of the connector 122 in the front-back directionwith respect to the female connector 27. Thus, because the game system 1can be moved downward in parallel to the connector 122, the connector122 can be easily inserted. Further, because the distance between theconnector 122 and the front surface of the second site 125 alsocorresponds to the distance between the female connector 27 and the backsurface of the game system 1, this aspect also contributes todetermining the position of the game system 1 in the front-backdirection, and makes the insertion of the connector 122 easy.

Also, when the connector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27,force is applied to the connector 122 in the insertion process, andthere is a possibility that the connector 122 will pivot. If theconnector 122 pivots in this manner, there is a possibility that theconnector 122 will be caught on the inner portion of the femaleconnector 27, and the connector 122 will not be smoothly inserted.However, in the exemplary embodiment, when the connector 122 pivots atthe time of insertion of the connector 122, the facing surface 1291 thatis parallel to the back surface 1221 of the connector 122 comes intocontact with the groove 29 of the game system 1, restricting pivoting ofthe connector 122. Thus, the connector 122 can be smoothly inserted.

Also, because the guide portion 129 is provided in the connector supportmember 120, the guide portion 129 can pivot together with the connector122. Thus, for example, even if the connector 122 pivots by beingpressed by the game system 1 immediately before the insertion of theconnector 122, the positional relationship between the connector 122 andthe facing surface 1291 does not change. Thus, if the game system 1 ismoved so as to be aligned with the facing surface 1291, even if theconnector 122 pivots, the connector 122 can be easily inserted into thefemale connector 27.

Furthermore, the two side surfaces 1292 of the guide portion 129 areconfigured to come into contact with the two side surfaces 292 in thegroove 29, and thus the position of the game system 1 in the left-rightdirection can be determined (guided) by the guide portion 129. Thus,this also makes it possible to easily insert the connector 122 into thefemale connector 27 of the game system 1.

(3) The above-described exemplary embodiment has a configuration inwhich, when the connector 122 is inserted into the female connector 27,the connector 122 pivots and the lower surface of the game system 1comes into contact with the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71 dueto the weight of the game system 1 after the connector 122 comes intocontact with the deep-end portion of the female connector 27. Thus, forexample, even in the case where, when current flows between theconnector 122 and the female connector 27, the effective fitting lengthis short, it is possible to reliably cause current to flow between theconnector 122 and the female connector 27.

In particular, because the connector support member 120 is pushed upwardby the springs 128, the front end of the connector 122 is kept incontact with the deep-end portion of the female connector 27. Thus, itis possible to maintain the state where current flows between theconnector 122 and the female connector 27.

(4) The FFC 79 extends from the rear end portion of the first substratethat supplies power to the connector 122, and the shaft portions 127 arelocated in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the first substrate1231. That is, the shaft portions 127 that are the pivoting centers arelocated near the portion at which the connector 122 and the FFC 79 areconnected to each other, and thus even if the first substrate 1231pivots, the portion at which the first substrate 1231 and the FFC 79 areconnected to each other is unlikely to move. Thus, it is possible toreduce failure such as the FFC 79 coming off from the first substrate1231 due to the FFC 79 excessively moving.

It should be noted that there is no particular limitation on theconnection position of the FFC 79, and the FFC 79 may be directlyconnected to the first substrate 1231, or may be connected to the rearend portion of the first substrate 1231 via another connection member.

(5) Because the connector 122 is disposed so as not to protrude from thevirtual plane Z that connects the front end of the upper surface 711 ofthe base portion 71 of the housing 100 and the upper end of the frontsurface 721 of the extension portion 72, for example, as shown in FIG.30, if the housing 100 is disposed such that the upper surface 711 ofthe base portion 71 faces the installation surface D, the connector 122is not in contact with the installation surface D. Thus, even in thecase where the housing 100 is installed as in FIG. 30, it is possible toprevent the connector 122 from coming into contact with the installationsurface D and being damaged.

(6) Because the stand member 130 is configured to separate from thehousing 100, if attempts are made to forcibly increase the angle of thestand member 130, or if the charging device is accidentally stepped on,it is possible to reduce the possibility that the stand member 130 andthe housing 100 will be damaged. For example, if the upper end of thehousing is stepped on in the state shown in FIG. 31, the stand member130 pivots such that the angle of the stand member 130 with respect tothe housing 100 increases due to the pressed force. Then, the angle ofpivoting increases, and when the upper end 133 of the stand member 130comes into contact with the upper surface 724 of the housing 100, thestand member 130 cannot pivot anymore. Further, if force is applied tofurther increase the pivoting angle of the stand member 130, the upperend portion of the stand member 130 serves as the fulcrum and the standmember 130 pivots, and the fixing pieces 141 of the stand member 130separate from the frame member 773 of the second fixing portion 772along with the pivoting.

Thus, when a strong force as described above is applied to the housing100, the stand member 130 separates from the housing 100, and thus, itis possible to reduce the possibility of damage such as the case wherecracking occurs in the portion at which the housing 100 and the standmember 130 are linked together. Further, even if the stand member 130separates from the housing 100, the stand member 130 can be easilyattached thereto again.

(7) The support member 75 and the pivoting member 77 of the linkingmechanism are linked by the torque hinges 76, and repeatedly pivot, andthus they may be made of a material with high rigidity. An example ofsuch a material with high rigidity is a resin material obtained byadding glass fibers to a resin such as a polyamide resin orpolycarbonate. Thus, if the support member 75 and the the pivotingmember 77 are made of such a material, it is possible to reduce thepossibility that these members 75 and 77 will be damaged. However, it isnot easy to color such a material, such as painting, and thus there is arisk that such a material will not provide the members with highaesthetic appearance. In view of this, only the support member 75 andthe pivoting member 77 are made of a material with high rigidity, and amaterial with relatively high aesthetic appearance and somewhat lowrigidity, such as an ABS resin or polycarbonate, may be used as thematerial for forming the housing 100 and the stand member 130 that areexposed to the outside. Accordingly, as described above, the supportmember 75 and the pivoting member 77 are accommodated in the housing100, and only portions thereof are exposed to the outside, and thus adecrease in the aesthetic appearance of the housing 100 is suppressed.It should be noted that a metal material may be adopted as the materialwith high rigidity for constituting the support member 75 and thepivoting member 77, for example.

5. Variations

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-describedexemplary embodiments, and various modifications can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Modifications such as thefollowing can be made, for example. Also, variations below can becombined as appropriate.

(1) There is no particular limitation on the shape of the housing 100,and the shape of the exemplary embodiment is an example. Thus, thehousing 100 may also have a shape other than the above-described L-shapein a side view as long as the game system 1 can be mounted, or may alsohave various shapes such as a shape in which the base portion and theextension portion simply intersect with each other. Also, the standmember 130 is not necessarily required, and it is sufficient that thehousing 100 can be installed on the installation surface.

(2) There is no particular limitation on the configuration of the guideportion 129 that is provided in the connector support member 120. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 32, if the guide portion 129 has a smallprotruding height, the front surface of the guide portion 129 does notcome into contact with the bottom surface of the groove 29, and thus thefront surface does not function as the facing surface of the presentdisclosure.

In this case, the front surface of the second site 125 (a surface towhich the guide portion 129 is attached) may be used as the facingsurface of the present disclosure, and the position of the game system 1in the front-back direction with respect to the connector 122 can bedetermined, for example. That is, when the connector 122 is insertedinto the female connector 27, the front surface of the second site 125faces the back surface of the game system 1. Note that, even if theguide portion 129 has a low protruding height, the guide portion 129still comes into contact with the side surfaces 292 of the groove 29,and thus the guide portion 129 is used to determine (guide) the positionin the left-right direction.

Also, the guide portion may not have the facing surface 1291 asdescribed above, and it is sufficient that the guide portion has variousconfigurations (a recessed portion, a protruding portion, a groove, andthe like) such that the guide portion guides the connector 122 to beinserted into the female connector 27. Further, a configuration may alsobe adopted in which such a guide portion pivots together with theconnector 122.

(3) The above-described exemplary embodiment has a configuration suchthat the connector 122 is supported by the connector support member 120,and the connector 122 pivots. That is, the portion of this connectorsupport member 120 that is configured to pivot the connector 122corresponds to the pivoting mechanism of the present disclosure.However, there is no particular limitation on the configuration forpivoting the connector 122. The exemplary embodiment has a configurationin which the main body portion 121 of the connector support member 120pivots, the connector 122 is supported by the first substrate 1231, andthe first substrate 1231 is fixed to the main body portion 121. However,as a configuration other than this configuration, a member to which theconnector 122 is fixed may be pivotably attached to the housing 100, forexample.

Also, the positions of the pivoting centers (shaft portions 127) needonly be located rearward of the connector 122, and are not required tobe located downward of the portion of the connector 122 protrudingoutward from the housing 100, and are not particularly limited. Forexample, the pivoting center (first axis line) may be located above theportion of the connector 122 that protrudes outward from the housing100. Also, the pivoting center may be disposed outside the housing 100.Further, the pivoting center may be the shaft portion 127 as describedin the exemplary embodiment, or a configuration may be adopted in whicha portion at which the members are linked together serves as thepivoting center without providing the pivoting center as a member, andpivots so as to be bent, or a configuration may be adopted in whichpivoting is possible by a rail or the like.

Also, although the exemplary embodiment has a configuration in which theconnector 122 pivots together with the main body portion 121, the firstsubstrate 1231, and the FFC 79, it is sufficient that the presentdisclosure has a configuration in which at least only the connectorpivots. Thus, the connector may also pivot by a member that supportsonly the connector. In this case, the first substrate may also beconnected to the connector by an FPC, a lead wire, or the like, or theconnector 122 may also be connected to another substrate or the externalterminal 78.

Also, the connector support member 120 has the springs (elastic members)128, but is not limited thereto, and may be another member as long asthe connector 122 can be biased toward the initial position.

(4) As shown in FIG. 24, the exemplary embodiment has a configuration inwhich a gap K is formed between the lower surface of the game system 1and the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71 when the front end ofthe connector 122 comes into contact with the deep-end portion of thefemale connector 27 in the process of inserting the connector 122, butthe configuration is not limited thereto. That is, when the front end ofthe connector 122 comes into contact with the deep-end portion of thefemale connector 27, the lower surface of the game system 1 may alsocome into contact with the upper surface 711 of the base portion 71.Alternatively, although depending on the effective fitting length, thelower surface of the game system 1 may also come into contact with theupper surface 711 of the base portion 71 before the front end of theconnector 122 comes into contact with the deep-end portion of the femaleconnector 27.

(5) Although an example in which the electric conduction apparatusaccording to the present disclosure is a charging device was describedin the exemplary embodiment, the electric conduction apparatus can alsobe used for various purposes other than charging an electronic device.That is, the electric conduction apparatus can be electrically connectedto an external apparatus by replacing the substrates 1231 and 781 in thehousing 100 as appropriate. For example, an image to be displayed on thedisplay of the game system 1 can be displayed on an external displayapparatus connected via the external terminal 78. Also, the electricconduction apparatus may be a power supply device for simply supplyingpower. The electric conduction apparatus according to the presentdisclosure can be used to supply power for various purposes other thancharging an electronic device.

Thus, there is no particular limitation on the electrical structurewithin the housing 100. For example, the structure of the externalterminal 78 is not particularly limited, and the external terminal 78may also be various male terminals. Also, there is no particularlimitation on the position and the shape of the second substrate 781.Also, the housing may be constituted by only the first substrate 1231and the FFC 79, and the external terminal 78 and the FFC 79 may also beconnected to each other. Also, if the position at which the FFC and thefirst substrate are connected to each other is located in the rear endportion as described above, it is advantageous, but may be anotherposition. Further, a cable is not limited to the FFC 79, and a cablewith various shapes may also be used.

(6) Also, the game system 1 described in the exemplary embodiment is anexample, and may also be another game system. Also, power can besupplied to various electronic devices other than the game system. Thatis, an electronic device to which the present disclosure is applied needonly have a predetermined surface provided with a connector insertionport, and is not particularly limited.

(7) The charging device 1000 of the exemplary embodiment can be used asan apparatus configured to support a device even though the connectorsupport member 120 is detached, in addition to the electronic componentssuch as the connector 122 and the substrate 1231. That is, the chargingdevice 1000 can be used as an apparatus configured to support variousdevices as long as it has at least the above-described housing 100,stand member 130, and linking mechanism. In this case, the stand member130 is configured to separate when attempts are made to forcibly detachthe stand member 130, and thus the apparatus can be used as a supportingapparatus having an advantage capable of reducing the possibility thatthe stand member 130 will be damaged. In this case, a device that issupported by the supporting apparatus may not be an electronic device,and various devices can be supported. The supporting apparatus can beexpressed as follows, for example.

This supporting apparatus is a supporting apparatus configured tosupport a device, the supporting apparatus including:

a housing that has a front portion on which the device can be mounted,and a rear portion that is opposite to the front portion;

a stand member that is attached to the rear portion of the housing; and

a linking mechanism configured to detachably link the stand member tothe housing so as to pivot about an axis line extending horizontally,the linking mechanism being capable of adjusting an angle between thestand member and the housing,

in which the linking mechanism is configured such that the stand memberseparates from the housing when the angle between the stand member andthe housing is a predetermined angle or more.

According to this configuration, when attempts are made to forciblyincrease the angle of the stand member with respect to the housing, forexample, if the angle is the predetermined angle or more, the standmember separates from the housing, and thus it is possible to reduce thepossibility that the stand member and the housing will be damaged. Onthe other hand, even though the stand member separates, the stand membermay be then attached to the housing again and used.

(8) The configuration of the linking mechanism is not particularlylimited, and the linking mechanism need only be configured such that thestand member 130 pivots with respect to the housing 100 and separatestherefrom when the angle between the stand member 130 and the housing100 is the predetermined angle or more.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 Game system (electronic device)    -   27 Female connector (connector insertion port)    -   29 Groove (recessed portion)    -   71 Base portion    -   711 Upper surface (support surface or surface of base portion)    -   72 Extension portion    -   75 Support member (first site)    -   76 Torque hinge (hinge portion)    -   77 Pivoting member (second site)    -   100 Housing    -   120 Connector support member (pivoting mechanism)    -   130 Stand member    -   122 Connector    -   1231 First substrate (substrate)    -   128 Spring (elastic member)    -   1291 Facing surface    -   141 Fixing piece (fixing portion)    -   144 Protruding piece (engagement portion)    -   79 Flexible flat cable (cable)

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric conduction apparatus that supports anelectronic device having a predetermined surface provided with aconnector insertion port and is capable of being electrically connectedto the electronic device, the electric conduction apparatus comprising:a housing having a front side and a rear side; a connector thatprotrudes from the housing and is configured to be inserted into theconnector insertion port; and a pivoting mechanism configured to pivotthe connector about a first axis line located on the rear side relativeto the connector.
 2. The electric conduction apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the pivoting mechanism further includes a facingsurface that faces a back surface of the electronic device that extendsfrom a rear end of the predetermined surface when the connector isinserted into the connector insertion port of the electronic device, andthe facing surface is disposed on the rear side relative to theconnector and extends substantially parallel to a direction in which theconnector protrudes.
 3. The electric conduction apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the facing surface is configured to be pivotabletogether with the connector by the pivoting mechanism.
 4. The electricconduction apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electronic devicehas a recessed portion extending upward from a portion at which thepredetermined surface and the back surface intersect with each other,and the pivoting mechanism includes a guide portion at least a portionof which can be inserted into the recessed portion, the guide portionhaving the facing surface.
 5. The electric conduction apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the electronic device has a recessedportion extending upward from a portion at which the predeterminedsurface and the back surface intersect with each other, and the pivotingmechanism has a guide portion at least a portion of which can beinserted into the recessed portion, the guide portion protruding fromthe facing surface to the front side.
 6. The electric conductionapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a substrate that iselectrically connected to the connector; and a cable extending from arear end portion of the substrate on the rear side, wherein thesubstrate is supported to be pivotable together with the connector bythe pivoting mechanism, and the first axis line is located in a vicinityof the rear end portion of the substrate.
 7. The electric conductionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting mechanism includesan elastic member configured to bias the connector in a direction inwhich the connector is inserted into the connector insertion port. 8.The electric conduction apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theelectronic device has a front surface extending from a front end of thepredetermined surface, the housing has a support surface that faces thepredetermined surface of the electronic device, and the support surfaceis configured such that a portion at which the predetermined surface andthe front surface of the electronic device intersect with each other cancome into contact with the support surface when the connector insertedinto the connector insertion port is detached from the connectorinsertion port.
 9. The electric conduction apparatus according to claim1, wherein the housing has a base portion having a surface that facesthe predetermined surface of the electronic device, and an extensionportion having a front surface that extends from the surface of the baseportion, the base portion and the extension portion are configured tointersect with each other in a side view, and the connector is disposedon the housing side relative to a virtual plane that connects a frontend of the surface of the base portion and an upper end of the frontsurface.
 10. The electric conduction apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the base portion and the extension portion are configured toform an L-shape in a side view.
 11. The electric conduction apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the housing has a base portion having asurface that faces the predetermined surface of the electronic device,and an extension portion that has a front surface extending from thesurface of the base portion, and a back surface that is opposite to thefront surface, the electric conduction apparatus further comprising: astand member that is attached to a back surface of the extensionportion; and a linking mechanism configured to link the stand member tothe housing so as to be capable of pivoting about a second axis line,the linking mechanism being capable of adjusting an angle between thestand member and the housing.
 12. The electric conduction apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the linking mechanism is configured todetachably link the stand member and the housing together, and separatethe stand member from the housing when the angle between the standmember and the housing is a predetermined angle or more.
 13. Theelectric conduction apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, when theangle between the stand member and the housing is the predeterminedangle, a site of the stand member above the second axis line comes intocontact with the housing.
 14. The electric conduction apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the linking mechanism includes a linkingportion provided in the housing, and a pair of fixing portions that areprovided in the stand member and detachably fixed to the linking portionso as to sandwich two ends of the linking portion in a direction alongthe second axis line.
 15. The electric conduction apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the linking mechanism further includes an engagementportion that is provided between the pair of fixing portions of thestand member and can engage with the linking portion.
 16. The electricconduction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an inclined portionis formed in at least one of portions at which the fixing portions andthe linking portion are in contact with each other in a state where thefixing portions and the linking portion are fixed to each other, and thefixing portions and the linking portion are configured to be fixed toeach other after sliding over the inclined portion.
 17. The electricconduction apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the linkingmechanism includes a first site that is provided in the extensionportion, a second site that has the linking portion, and a hinge portionthat links the first site and the second site and enables the first siteand the second site to pivot relative to each other about the secondaxis line.
 18. The electric conduction apparatus according to claim 17,wherein a material for forming the first site and the second site has arigidity that is higher than that of a material for forming the housing.19. The electric conduction apparatus according to claim 18, wherein thefirst site and the second site are made of a resin material containingglass fibers, and at least a portion of the first site and the secondsite is accommodated in the housing.
 20. The electric conductionapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device can becharged when the connector is inserted into the connector insertion portof the electronic device.